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, PIGBON HOLE 0R POST OFFICE CALL BOX. 7 No. 343,614.

Patented June 15, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. R. TOWNEQ PIGEON HOLE 0R POS-TOFPIGB CALL BOX. v No. 343,614.Patented June 15, 1886..

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- UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

HENRY R. TOWNE, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEYALE & TOWNEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PlGEON -HOLE OR POST-OFFICE CALL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,614, dated June 15,1886.

Application filed April 2, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY R. TOWNE, of Stamford, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and 5useful Improvements in Pigeon-Holes or Post- Office Call-Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings. I

My improvements relate to that class of callboxes known as wire-bottomedcall-boxes, in which vertical partitions are made of thin wood, whilethe horizontal partitions are made of wires, the wires passing throughholes bored in the vertical partitions, and not serving to hold thepartitions in place. Where nests of such call-boxes are of usualheightsay eight or ten tiers hi gh-the vertical partitions, if not heldin some manner, will warp and twist out of place, or be displaced bypushing mail-matter into the boxes. It is therefore necessary that somemeans should be provided for holding the vertical partitions in placeparallel to each other. This has heretofore been accomplished byfastening wooden strips to their edges; but this method is awkward andnot ornamental.

By my invention I provide for the fronts of the call-boxes what I termcombined number plates and separators. These consist of metallic plates,preferably brass, of such form as to project over the ends of thevertical partition and extend back into the boxes, so that a wire may bepassed through a hole in each plate, and through the verticalpartitions, to secure the plates or stays in position. These plates maybe made of very thin metal, if desired, and stiffeners of wood or othermaterial may be placed upon the wires between the partitions, to act asstays or braces in conj unction with the thin metallic plates; but suchwires and stiffeners may be dispensed with, and the metallic platesthemselves may be made heavier and stronger, so as to be sufficient inthemselves, when secured in place by any ordinary means, to properlybrace and stay the vertical partitions.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my improvements, Figure 1 isa front view of a nest of pigeon-holes. Fig. 2 is a section 53 on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of them.

Serial No. 197,574. (No model.)

the number plates and separators before their ends are bent as they arewhen applied, and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the letters upon the drawings in aid of a description indetail of my improvelnents, A indicates a nest of call-boxes.

B indicates the thin vertical wooden partitions of this nest. Cindicates the ordinary wire horizontal partition.

D indicates ordinary stay-pieces, of wood, secured to the rearof thenest of boXes,whieh stay-pieces are preferably provided with smallprojecting beads above and below, between which the number and namecards of the box- ,renters may be placed, so as to show from the insideof the post-office.

E indicates the fastening wire, passing through holes in the metallicnumber-plates F, and through the vertical partitions near their frontedges, as illustrated. These numher-plates, it will be observed, areprovided each with a panel in front adapted to receive the numbeecards,as indicated in the drawings. Each number-plate can be struck up from asingle plate of metal into form, so that 7 the panel shall project nearto or against the glass front of the nest of call-boXes, while theinclined or curved ends of the plates extend backward into the boxes, soas to bear against the sides of the vertical partitions and stay Theform of end bearings, consisting of a lip, G, bent back upon the plate,as illustrated in Fig. 2, is preferable; but I do not limit my inventionto any particular form of stay-plate, the idea being to have a metallicplate capable of being made of a single piece of plate metal of suchform as to go between the partitions and serve to stay them, and'at thesame time present a numberpanel projecting forward sufficiently. It isdesirable 0 that the lipsbe bent so as to each cover onehalf the frontedge of the vertical partition; but that is not essential.

H indicates stiffeners or stay-pieces, of wood or other material,bearing at their ends against 9 5 the wood partitions.

Having. described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic stay or separator forpigeon-hole parti- 3. The combination, with pigeon-holes hav'- tions,having ends adapted to bear against and ing horizontal partitions ofWire and a glazed brace the inner sides of the partitions, and a front,of the metal stays or separators having I 5 central panel for a number,substantially as number-plateslocated within the glazed front 5 setforth. and between the vertical partitions, substan- 2. The combinationof the metallic numbertially as set forth. plate and stay or separatoradapted to bear In testimony whereof I have hereunto subagainst andbrace the inner sides of the parscribed my name.

titions with a supplemental stay-rod 0r stit'fi HENRY R. TOWNE. ro enerlocated between the points of attaeh- \Vitnesses:

ment of the metallic stay to the partitions, sub- SOHUYLER MERRIT'F,stantially as set forth. G130. E. WHITE.

